Two-position quasi-mirror radar of the sea surface: Principles of microwave scattering and possibilities of solving Oceanology problems from space

Abstract

Using available wind wave spectra data, we consider the applicability conditions of the tangent plane (Kirchhoff) method and the small perturbations and diffusion (Rayleigh) method to construct microwave diagrams of sea surface scattering (quasi-mirror forward scattering). We take into account the peculiarities of Earth sensing from orbit, the closeness of viewing of a mirror point to the Brewster angle, and the possibility of simultaneous formation of wide-capture radar images for the coaxial and collinear polarization components of a reflected signal. It is concluded that, taking into account the approximations made, it is possible to creat panorama small- and mesoscale images of the field of wind wave slopes for a coverage area on the order of 2000 km. Then, based on earlier engineering design studies, we present three possible modifications of “tandem” space radar designed to efficiently solve certain oceanological and applied problems.